And Now THIS

So the Republican Federal Anti-Marriage Amendment was defeated. Two Democrats and 47 Republicans voted for ‘cloture,’ to allow the Amendment itself to be voted on, but 60 were needed (and two-thirds would have been required for the Senate to approve the Amendment itself, and then three-quarters of the states). So that was that.

Now comes the Republican push to eliminate the estate tax. At a time of war and gigantic deficit, they call for yet another tax cut, this one exclusively (not just mainly) for the rich.

‘If you’re ever confused about the GOP’s puzzling determination to eliminate the broadly supportable estate tax, this report showing that George Bush, Dick Cheney, and their cabinet will personally gain between $90 and $340 million dollars from the tax’s repeal clarifies things considerably. As for amassing the political will for the battle, a recent Center for Public Integrity report found that a handful of superrich families had spent $490 million lobbying against the tax. If they succeed, these same families will gain almost $72 billion. Now that’s what I call a good investment. – Ezra Klein